Preventive MedicinePreventive medicine requires a discussion of life style and owner concerns to ensure patient health and safety. The owner and veterinarian develp programs for each individual and review what this entails. This is critical if pets are to remain healthy into older stages of life.

When it comes to vaccinations, at Maplewood Animal Hospital we believe that the pet owner and the veterinarian need to discuss risks and benefits. There are core vaccines that all animals should receive, barring severe life-threatening adverse reactions. Core vaccines for all pets should include rabies and distemper. Special, non-core vaccines, are given based on owner concerns and patient needs and may include bordetella, canine influenza, lyme disease, and for cats feline leukemia. Other, non-core vaccines are available by the patient situation but rarely used in practice and are dependent on additional risks to the animal.

To protect against heartworm disease, we recommend all dogs and cats at risk be on monthly heartworm preventative and be tested for heartworm disease at least once every 2 years.

As pets age, it is important to discuss th aging processons of increasing age in all pets. Regular blood analysis, physical examination, and fecal testing of aging pets are steps to be taken by the pet owner with your veterinarian.

Older animals, dogs over 5-6 years old and cats over 8-9 years, are at a higher risk of internal ageing processes and diseases that are difficult to determine solely with a physical examination. We recommend for older patients that a blood analysis be conducted as needed to ensure health and monitor for ongoing illnesses or diseases.